At first glance, the quiet, idyllic setting of the Bay Oaks assisted-living facility next to Biscayne Bay in Miami does not provide any hint that it is on the cutting-edge of the on-going battle against healthcare associated infections (HAIs). But walk

through the garden courtyard and into the building that resembles a bed-and-breakfast inn, and you will find the Novaerus systems quietly humming in all residents’ rooms and common areas. Traditional infection control methods have reached the point of diminishing returns, and as bacteria become more resistant to traditional medicines and procedures, technology must play a role in eradication and prevention. Bay Oaks is one of the first long-term care facilities in the entire country to implement the Novaerus HAI eradication technology, and has all but eliminated incidents of respiratory distress among residents and sta�.

Bay Oaks is a social model facility, and does not typically have in residence seniors with serious medical conditions, disabilities or dementia that prohibits them from performing the basics for themselves. The typical resident is an 84-year-old female, with the eldest being 102 years old. While Bay Oaks has the capacity for 41 residents, it rarely exceeds 35.

“When residents do become ill and have to be hospitalized, they come back to us in a weakened state and are more susceptible to infections and respiratory issues,” says Kathryn Kassner, administrator at Bay Oaks. “That risk increases if a resident is recovering from major surgery.”

SUPERBUGSThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned of the growing threat of “nightmare” superbugs that are untreatable because they are resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics. The CDC reports this class of superbug, called Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, has been found only in nursing homes and hospitals. In the first half of 2012, nearly 200 hospitals treated at least one of these infections.

While the threats have grown more sophisticated, the methods of controlling and preventing the life-threatening infections they cause have not. The last revolution in infection control procedures occurred when Joseph Lister began using Carbolic Acid as an antiseptic in surgical procedures in the 1860s, significantly reducing mortality rates from infection by 30 percent within a decade.

Bay Oaks rigorously follows standard infection prevention practices, including frequently cleaning rooms, changing linens and ensuring sta� wash their hands. But as the threat of a superbug continued to dominate news headlines, Kassner began investigating technologies that could supplement the facility’s policies and sta� expertise.

“I first learned about the Novaerus system after reading some literature, and we soon began putting the units in each room, and response was spectacular” she adds. “It eliminates odors and infuses the air with a sense of cleanliness. That is di�cult to explain, but you notice it immediately when you walk into a room.”

PLASMA: THE SUPERBUG’S KRYPTONITEThe Novaerus technology is the first scientifically proven system for airborne infection control, healthcare-associated infections/

hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and disease prevention. Developed for use in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Novaerus provides significant health, environmental and cost benefits to patients, sta� and visitors in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Novaerus provides continuous airborne infection control by passing air through its revolutionary, patented disruptive plasma field. The patented Novaerus field emits billions of harmless electrons that safely destroy the protein bio-films of viruses, break down the cell walls of bacteria, and denature mold, allergens and odors – and it uses less energy than a 40 watt light bulb. Novaerus is proven to eradicate 99.9999999999% of all airborne pathogens and reduces microbial surface counts by up to 90%.

During the annual Christmas party, a resident’s family member brought along an uninvited guest: the flu. This most recent flu season was especially bad in 2012. The CDC reported 22,048 flu cases from Sept. 30 through the end of 2012. By the same time in 2011, only 849 flu cases had been reported nationwide. That’s 26 times more cases in 2012 than in 2011.

“Nationwide we saw a lot of H3N2, which is particularly dangerous to children and the elderly, so I was worried that all of our residents would be a�ected,” said Kassner. “However, we had installed the Novaerus systems in September, and as a result, fewer than half of our residents were a�ected. The health department told me that we did a spectacular job, and I know that without the Novaerus technology, that number would have been 100 percent.

“This is cutting edge technology for environments such as ours. We’ve only been using the Novaerus systems for less than a year, so specific ROI is di�cult to quantify for skeptics, and I appreciate that. But from an anecdotal standpoint, we have not had one resident visit a physician due to a respiratory issue since January, and our residents and sta� have simply never been healthier than we are now.”

For more information, visit www.novaerus.com.

Airborne Infection Control 1408 Westshore Blvd. N. | Suite 501 | Tampa, FL 33607 813.304.2468 novaerus.com

A HISTORIC SETTING FOR A MODERN SOLUTION TO PREVENTING HAIS

BAY OAKS:

Novaerus is proven to eradicate

of all airborne pathogens. 99.9999999999%